Taking Steps

First, I want to thank everyone who is following our story and praying for Rassie and our family.  It means so mcuh.

Rassie's CML is doing ok.  Dr. R lowered his dosage of hydroxyurea a little too much.  His white count went up again to 58k yesterday.  The physical therapy doctor went ahead and increased the dosage.  Next Monday, November 2nd.  We will meet with the oncologist and have Rassie's first official appointment.  Hopefully we can get the Gleevec worked out then.  It may not happen right away but the good news is the hydroxyurea is keeping it under control in the meantime.

Rassie's back injury is so-so.  He is still unable to really feel his right leg and both feet. Just pins and needles. But he is making progress of sometime.   He is able to move his left leg more without the pain in his back.  He seems to think his left foot is waking up more.  And yesterday he took his first TWO steps!  I am so very proud of him.  Today he took a total of TEN steps!  I am so excited for him.  They physical therapists helped him up to the parallel bars twice.  The first time he took four steps and the second time he took 6 steps.  He says that all the pins and needles in his right foot and leg turn into nails and a sharp pain goes up all the way from his foot up to his back.  He says its very painful but he knows he has to try so that he can and will get better.   I have to tell you though, these are extremely supported steps.  He has a belt they put around his waist to help hold him up, plus the parallel bars and then the two physical therapists who are right there along side of him the entire time.   They PT's do have to help him to get on the bars.  They have to lock his legs with their legs.  What this means is one stands in front of him and puts their toes to his toes and their knees to his knees and then they pull him up.  

He is still doing physical therapy twice a day and occupational therapy is down to a group therapy once a day.  Occupation therapy thinks he is doing great and doesn't need anymore therapy in the area of being able to take care of himself. As for the physical therapy, he still has a ways to go.  But the progress he is making is just amazing and I will take anything we can get right now.  Did I  mention how proud of him I am?!  Tuesday he has an elvalutaion with the rehab floor doctors. They will make their decision then on whether he gets to come home and continue with rehab as an outpatient or if he needs to stay another week.

That's our update for now.